Drying system



March 19, 1929.' F. cfFARNswoRfH" 1,705,516'

DRYING SYSTEM Filed June 2, 1926 Patented Mar.. 19, i929.,l

UNITED :ff

FREDERICK C. FABNSWOBTH, OF NQRRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

Application le June 2,

which contains allarge percentage of' mois-.

ture, and moreover, must be dried while travelling at a high Speed.

Fundamentally, my invention embodies features of construction and mode of operation which enable steam to blow through the drying cylinders about which the paper 1s 'being conveyed from the wet end ofthe d rying system to the dry end thereof, the drying cylinders being kept substantially clear of water of condensation and air, and moreover, wherein the drying cylinders are divided into sections and so coupled with the supply and return headers that the steam travels in the direction from the dry end section to the Wet end section, and in which further, the steam which. has passed through the cylinders of one section is delivered tothe cylinders of. the next sectionwith a predetermined maximum drop vin pressure, and so on throughout the system, said steam at all times being at a pressure above that of the atmosphere.

As a further requisite to the successful operation of my improved system,the water of condensation is positively blown out of the drying cylinders under pressure and is separated Jr'rom the steam in an automatic manner before being fed in its relatively dry condition to the next section of dryers, and wherein also a by-pass is trapped 'by a water seal between the sup ly headers of adjacent sections whereby` the y-pass will permit the passage of steam from the header of one section into the header of the next cooler Section to provide a suciency of steam therein whenever Vthe dilerential in the pressure between the headers ofthe two adjacent sectionsl shall fall below a predetermined amount,preferably one pound diii'erentialf With .the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will be more fully under- ;stood from the description hereinafter; the invention consists in the novel construction ofk drying systems andv mode or operation thereof, as hereinafter more fully described and deined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. l is a side elevation illustrating "the principles ofconstruction of a drying Isystem embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the water seal and separating tanks; Figz is a view showing the manner in which the water is blown .and siphoned out of the drying 192e. i serial no. 113,168.

cylinders; Fig. 4 is a side elevation correspending to Fig. 1, but in which there are a plurality of water seal control means when an increased number of sections are employed; and Fig. 5 is a detailed enlarged view of the interference baliles for drying the steam. A l Y A, B and C represent the drying cylinders of three sections, said cylinders arranged in the usual form so that the paper or fabric passes successively about the same. The paper in its most wet condition is first received by the drying cylinder A. constituting the wet end section. lt then passes successively-about the cylinders B whichconstitute an. 'intermediate section, but onaccount of being adjacent to the wet end of the apparatus as a whole, it may be considered as a secondary wet end section. From these cyl-V inders B, the papenweb passes successively about the cylinders C which constitute-the dry end section. lt will be noted that there are more cylinders C in lthe dr end section than cylinders B in the secon ary wet end section, and more cylinders in the latter than in the case of the cylinder A constituting the primary wet end section. While only one cylinder is shown at A, more than one may be employed, if so desired:

rlhe greatest condensation ofsteam per cylinder takes place in the cylinder A and the leastvcondensation i er cylinder occurs in the cylinders C o the ry end section. With a given supply of steam to the cylinders C, it

is manifest that after certain condensation takes place therein there is less steam passing to the cylinders B of the next sect-ion; and as at, this section thenpaper is more wet, it is manifest that there is a greater dryingI duty upon the cylinders B than upon the cylinders C, and as there is less steam than was supplied to the dry end cylinders, itfollows that there must be lesser Vnumber of the iB cylinders to normally operate with the steam' which is uncondensed in the cylinders C and passed into the cylinders B. Similarly, as"

theuncondensed steam from the cylinders B is the source for the steam for the wet Asection of which Ais a cylinder, it naturally follows that the cylinder or cylinders of this fwet section must be less i'n number than 'the 5 cylinders Bof the secondary wet end section.

The numbers of the cylinders in each section l are proportionedl to suit the particular requirements of the mill and', at the same time,

to insure a constant maximum dilerential in Y .until the predetermined pressure is attained when -the water seal again closes. This seal makes and breaks constantly in the process of maintaining the uniform pressure 'dif-v ference between sections.

What has been said in respect to the maintenance of a differential between the dry end section and the secondary wet end section will also apply as between the wet end section and the secondary wetend section respectively comprising the drying cylinders A and B. The wet end section comprising the cylinder A is not shown as having a supply header and a return header because only one cylinder is shown, and the supply pipe 25 and the return orv discharge .pipe 26 are the equivalent of said headers 2a and 3, as such pipesrwould be respectively connected into mains similar to said headers if the wet end section comprised two or more cylinders.

The tank 8 isfurther provided with a division plate 19v wliich forms another chamber 2O at the opposite end of the tank and into this chamber the return pipe 3a discharges. The supply pipe 25 for supplying steam to the wet end section A also communicates with this chamber 20 and by which steain'from the return Sais supplied to the pipe'and' thence to the dryer A. The chamber 20 may be divided by baflles 2l. which are shown as simple plates with perforations, but-said. baffles may be made as indicated at l5 or .may be omitted altogether, if so desired. Y

'lotake care of the additional steam 'which the water seal provided by the ,may be required to be passed from the supply v,header 2a to the pipe 25 of the wet endv dry-V ing cylinder A to maintain the predetermined differential ot one pound where the condensation in cylinder A was not excessive from any cause, atrap'is provided comprising a well 22 and a water sealed pipe23 opening at the top into the chamber l() and at the bottom into the lower part of the well through apertures 24, and said Well further openingat its top'into the chamber 20 so that there is provided a water seal between the chambers and which corresponds in its operation to well 11 and pipe l2,before referred to. It lWill be observed that by this construction, the supply header 2EL is by its ,pipe connection 14, chamber l() and water seal"(part s 22 and 23) putinto communication with the chamber 20 and acts as an automatic-means to by-pass steam from the source of the supply header 2a to the wet end cylinder A. It will alsol be understood thatA as the supply header 2acontains stoam at the same pressiras in chambers 10 and 9, it is manifest that, in effect, any excess of steam which may be temporarily required may come also from thev return header 3 of the dry end section and even from the supply header therefor where the demand is such as to supply such steam through the water seal 11-12. This is important, because the drying cylinders A and B of the iirst two sections, where the paper is Wettest, the amount of steam condensed per cylinder is greatest, and under some conditions, either or both of the two wet end sections might re- Y quire additional steam greater Y than what could be supplied by the dry end section return header 3. and in which case, the steam would be supplied directly fromv the steam header 2 through the water seals 11--12 and 22;*23, and simultaneously thereby supplyingadditional steam to the header 2a of the B cylinders and to pipe 25 supplying the A cylinder.

From 4the foregoing, it will be seen that the system is very flexible and that, while each section performs its specific normal function, the wet end or intermediate sections will be quickly responsive in the supply of steam n whenever the prearranged dioferential therein is overcome by excessive condensation of steam where abnormally wet portions of thel paper are brought into Contact with Vthe cylinders of said sections.

The water seal with its total absence of Y duction between sections and automatically Y supplying make-up steam for reducing velocities in order that water can `be effectively separated as it passes through the separating chamber. llt automatically maintains the exact pressure drop for which it is set, no more and 'no less, therebyallowing 'pressure drop to be correctly maintainedregardless of what pressure is carried on paper machine.

The water, air and steam which may pass from the wet end drying cylinder A by pipe 26 may be allowed to blow oft' bythe pipe 27 or, it desired` may be received in a tilting trap device which' condenses it and Adelivers the hot water to a tank or place of storage. As the cylinder A performs the greatest duty per cylinderV in drying, it is desirable that the steam which blows through the said cylinder shall 'maintain its pressure to insure the thorough blowing out of the water and air set free by the condensation 'of the steam, and -to prevent too., rapid an exhaustion ofA the steam by the trap or pump,28, I- prefer to" provide a short eircuiting means which coin-- prises the well 29 opening from the bottom of inol by thc tilting trap or pumping device 28. -In this manner, the full blowing force of the steam is maintained in the cylinder A While, at the same time, the Water of condensation and lair are readily taken care of so that the cylinder remains'in a substantially dry condition.

The Water of condensation is utilized to maintain the Water seals butl the excess thereof must be removed and this is accomplished in the following manner: The excess of condensation water over what is necessary to keep the Well 11 filled flows aiongthe bottom ofthe tank 8 through apertures provided in the lower parts of the baiiie plates 1G, and thence is delivered into the Well 22 through the pipe 23. The overflow from the Well 23 flows along the bottoni of the tank and into the well 29 from which it is sucked or pump 28, i s before described.

Vhere the system is extended to four or more sections, the Water seals, interposed between the sections and at the Sametime permitting all of the sections to cooperate in drying steam from the initial supply main, may have a single tank divided into the right-number of chambers, etc. Such an arrangen'ient is indicated in Fig. 4, in which A, B, B and C represent drying cylinders of four sections.

The sections having the cylinders A, B and C are coupled up `vvith the tanks and water seals in the same manner as illustrated in Fig.v

1, but in the case of the additionalfsection B, the same must be coupled into connection Withthe tank and water seals as shown in' Fig. 4, and which, in effect, duplicates the illustration of Fig. 1 which corresponds tov the dry end section having the drying cylinders C. In Fig. 4, I have lettered the parts which correspond to 1 With the same letters of referencdbut it will be observed that, in

addition to the chambers 9, l() and 20, there is an additional chamber 10*l between the chamber l and the. chamber 20, said chamber 10'l having a Well llaand watersealed pipe lLlcon-` nec-ting with the header2" o t the drying cylinders B. and in which the steam of the co1'- responding return header 3 discharges di rectly into the chamber and which, after passing through bailies a is delivered to the supply header 2a of the secondary Wetend section. Furthermore, an additional Water seal comprising a Well 22?L and sealed vpipe 232L may be provided between the .chambers 10 and 10a to permit the passage of Water and, at the same time, to permit, under a greater than normal differential, the passage l of steam from the dry end header 2Jthroug'h seal-pipe 12, thence to the header supplying the drying cylinders B also through the seal pipe 23n into the chamber 10El and to the supply header 2a of the section having the drying cylinders B, and further., by-.passingthrough the' seal pipe 23 andsupplying steam to the wet end section having the drying cylinder A,

ing steam from thesupply header of the dry,

end section or source to any one or more of the other sections, according to their requirements, and made possible the fact thatthisadditional steam may be by-passed through the seiferal'specially arranged seal pipes 23a and 23 which perfoim the"` dual function of permitting such by-passing of the steam as well as for transferring the Water from the chamber 10a to chamber 10, and thence to y chamber 2O to the discharge Well 29.

- Furthermore, as indicated in Fig. 1 va branch return pipe 32 may drain the return header of water and deliver it to the chamber 9 Where a very large number of dry end cylinders are employed, as in large paper making machines for the manufacture ,of paper board.

The fundamental principle of a good paper drying system is to remove all 'Water from the inside surfaces of the dryers as fastas it aocuinulates, owing to the fact that the maximum heat transfer cannot be obtained When' any heat resisting elements such as Water,

air and oil are present. The cold, Wet paper passing over the dryers is the condensing medium for inducing the heat throughthe shell of the dryers, and it Will travel through the cast iron shell greatly faster when 'insuythe steam permitted to blow through under the pressure differential existing betweenthe supply and return headers With sufhcient freedom to not only insure the proper heating of active steam, but also to insure the pas- 'of enough steam into the return manifold, as Will be necessary to supply the norl mal requirements of the succeeding sections in the direction toward the Wet end section of the system. The Water seal features for by-passing the steam from one section to another when the differential bet-Ween the presy sure inthe supply and return mains of any section exceeds the predetermined amount flating iilins, such as Water and air, are ret or more of the sections, such as the wet end or secondary wet end sections, for example, as indicated in Fig. 4.

By employing a large tank into which the return header ot the dry end section discharges and in which the pressure is approximately one pound lower than the initial 'pressure of the supply header of the section,

it is important that the pressure in the 'tank shall not drop lower than this predetermined amount, because the speed of iiow of the steam Ithrough the tank would increase to suchran extent that the separator therein lwould not separate the water from the steam and, there,- ore, the steam lbeing suppliedvto the next section would not be suiiiciently dry to give the best results. lIn other words, if steam were to flow throughthe separator ata velocity greater than ten thousand feet per minute, the entrained and suspended water carried with steam would not be eliminated, and consequently, while I do not limit myself to one pound differential, it is desirable that the differential shall not be higher than would insure a proper flow of steamfthrough the siphon pipes to cause the system to operate normally and, at the same time, permit the proper elimination of water from thesteamvso that the steam supply to each section will he comparativelydry. Furthermore, it is evident that where the steam velocity is not too great, the battles may be in sutiicient number to insure thorough elimination of the water from the steam.

The use of water seals inconnection with the by-passing of steam to take care of abnormal condensations removes all guess work in operation as they automatically control the drop in pressure in the tank whereby it shall not exceed the predetermined amount while automatically supplying the rmakeup steam necessary to insure the proper supply of steam to the wet end drying cylin-A --ders, even if the Siphon pipes of the dry end cylinders should supply insufficient steam to the return header to meet the requirements of the remaining portions of the system.'

My improved system is simple in construction in that it avoids the necessity of mechanical appliances such as valves and inde-r pendent traps'on each 4of the drying 'cylinders and, moreover, utilizes the water of condensation as a const-ant means for maintaining the .operativeness of the dilerential seals; and, furthermore, the system is so constructed that thesteam may he maintained in a comparatively Vdry condition notwithstand- -ing th at it is repeatedly used in the respective i sectionsvand, therefore, is ecient as a drying medmm.

I have' described my improvements in that' particularity which I deem' to bethe best exposition of my invention, and that which I prefer 1n commercial practice, but I do not restrict or confine myself tothe minor or sec-4 ondary details,"as such are-susceptible of modication which may be resorted to as l,

matters of mechanical skill and without adepartureY from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim andV desire to secure' by Letters Patentis:

1. rdrying system ot the character described, comprising a plurality 'of' sections each composed of one or moredrying cylinl ders provided with means for permitting vthe entrance o steam and the discharge of water of condensation, said sections being arranged in alinement for successively drying the Ysame web of material, supply headers for simultaneously supplying steam to the drying cylinders of the respective sections, return 'headers for the respective sections for receiving the steam and water of condensation Jfrom said sections, water separating chambers into,V which the water of condensationA and steam A from the return headers of the respective sec-` tions discharge and wherein the steam is sepa-rated, said separators respectively in communication with the steam header ofthe next section of drying cylinderstoward the wet end of the system, and a water seal controlling means between theY 'steam headers-.of each of the adjacent sections whereby ka detinite maximum' differential pressure is insured between the steam headers of adjacent sections so that make-up steam may be supplied from a section of greater temperature and steam pressure to the adjacent one of lesser Atemperatureand steam pressure.

2. The invention according to claim 1,

wherein further, baiiie meansare provided l through which the steam delivered from one section to the next section is caused to pass, .whereby thel entrainedl water is separated.

3. The invention. Vaccording to claim 1, wherein baiiies are arranged intermediatel of the return header of one section and the supply header of the next section, ,whereby the` steam is largely separated from the entrained water before it passes to the supply header of the last mentioned section.

'4. The invention according to claim wherein battles are arranged intermediate of the return header of one section and the sup- A 'water bei'ore it passes to the supply header of v the lastmentioned section, and in which 'g f further, the baies areso positioned that they are. not only arranged between the return header of one section and supply header of l the next section but Vare also' interposed between the water seal and the supply header Vlast mentioned.

. 5. The; invention accordingY togclaim l,

wherein the water seal from the supply header of one section discharges intoa second water seal having communicationwiththe supplyheader of the last mentioned section and the steam separator for the steamrfrom the lastv mentioned section.

6.' A drying system of thecharaCter described, in-which there areja plurality of drying Cylinders grouped into a plurality et sections, each section provided with a steam supply headerand'a return header, combined with a separate water seal between the sup-k ply and return headers of the respective sections and a communication between the water seals of adjacent sections and the supply header of one of the sections.

7. The inventionA according to claim 6,

wherein further, there is provided a batlieY means interposedbetween the water seal oi' one of the sections and the supply header of theA adjacent section which header is in conimunicationivith a water seal which is also in communication with the corresponding return header.

8. The invention according to claim 6, in -which further, a third section of thedrying means is provided and Asupplied with steam from the separator'in communication with the ret-urn header of the last mentioned section, and in which further the discharge from said additional drying means is provided with controlling means to regulate the discharge.

9. The invention according to claim 6, in

. Which 4further, a third section of the drying means is-provided and supplied with steam from the separator 1n communication with Y J. i i

the return header of the last 4mentioned section, and in which further the discharge from said additional drying means is provided with controlling means to regulate the discharge,

said regulating means comprising a steam `trap device orreceiving and discharging the water of condensation, and said discharge means from the third section having a branch pipe in'ivater sealed communication with the separate chamber from which the third scction is supplied with steam.

10. In a. drying system oi the characterdescribed, the combination of drying cylinders over which the material passes divided into a plurality ot sections and each section provided with a supply pipe and a return pipe with a horizontal tank having a yplurality of compartments respectively in communication with the return pipes oit' the respective sections, and wherein further, the supply pipes of said sections are in communication through water seals with the ycompartments with Y which their return pipes communicate.

11. The invention according to claim l0, whereinfnrther, baiiles are arranged in one oi' the chambers-otl the tank and through which the steam from the water seal of one section is required to pass to reach the supply pipes of the next section.

FREDERICK o.l FARNSWORTH. 

